Apparatus for solvent treatment of rolled fabric



April 30, 1963 K. w. BAHLO 3,

APPARATUS FOR SOLVENT TREATMENT OF ROLLED FABRIC Filed Oct. 1'7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 I Hg 37 F fl 5E gm 53 35 .3 63 64A 65.6 19/ 62A @Q E Q E k 53 31 H s 35A .3 p I zoA INVENTOR.

l Klaus W. Bahlo ATTORNEY April 30, 1963 K. w. BAHLO 3,087,322

APPARATUS FOR SOLVENT TREATMENT OF ROLLED FABRIC Filed Oct. 17, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

' INVENTOR.

Klaus W. Bahlo ATTORNEY FIG.H

April 30, 1963 Filed 001;. 17, 1961 K. w. BAHLO 3,087,322

APPARATUS FOR SOLVENT TREATMENT OF ROLLED FABRIC 3 SheetsSheet 5 United States Patent Ofitice 3,087,322 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 3,087,322 APPARATUS FOR SULVENT TREATMENT F ROLLED FABRIC Klaus W. Bahia, Fairfield, COHEL, assignor to The American Fabrics Company, Bridgeport, Corm., a corporation Filed Get. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 145,723 3 Claims. (Cl. 68-189) This invention relates to apparatus for fluid treatment of a roll of textile fabric in order to effect dissolution of soluble constituents thereof; pressure dyeing or application of other liquids under pressure to such fabric roll.

In the manufacture of laces, narrow bands of such laces are laterally joined together in wide web form by means of solvent soluble threads. Such a wide web may be finished by conventional procedures such as scouring, bleaching, washing, dyeing and the like. Upon completing the finishing operations, the fabric in roll form is subjected to a suitable solvent, so as to dissolve the joining threads and thus release the lace bands.

According to known procedures, the rolled textile is placed in a cylindrical chamber with solvent admitted thereto for penetrating the fabric in a radial manner inwardly from the outer circumference thereof. However, in such procedures, the penetration takes place at a very slow rate and may take several hours to achieve uniform application of the solvent to all portions of the fabric roll.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for applying solvent'to a fabric roll in a manner to saturate all parts of the fabric roll rapidly in a fraction of the time required in conventional procedures.

Furthermore, in conventional treatments of roll fabric with solvent, the soluble threads on dissolving in the solvent saturate said solvent. The saturated solvent attains an increased viscosity which retards circulation thereof and thus further impedes the overall circulation of solvent and dissolution of the soluble threads.

Accordingly, a further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character described, in Which circulation of solvent is achieved under conditions which avoids progressive saturation thereof by dissolved material, and materially facilitates uniform removal of the dissolved material.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved procedures for applying solvent to a roll of fabric in a manner to circulate said solvent in a path and through the fabric roll to rapidly dissolve soluble constituents of said fabric roll.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus of the character described which comprises a composite conduit adapted to extend axially of a fabric roll, said conduit including a portion for passing solvent and another portion for passing heating medium which is to be used after the fabric has been subjected to solvent action whereby residual solvent may be efficiently drawn off radially outward through the fabric roll for removal by suitable vacuum means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved system for treating rolled fabric with solvents or other liquids wherein liquid is passed cyclically in alternative paths through the rolled fabric to achieve maximum penetration thereof in minimum time intervals.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved system for treating rolled fabric with solvent to Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal elevational view of the extractor system embodying the invention with parts in section.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial, longitudinal sectional view of the solvent inlet end of the extractor portion thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end view thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an end view of one of the extractors showing the hinged end closure thereof;

FIG. 10 is a top: plan view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation showing the operation of the extractor system; and

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a detail of the system.

In accordance with the instant invention, for purpose of illustration, a pair of treating chambers or extractors, for respectively containing rolled fabric to be treated to remove the soluble constituents thereof, are arranged for concurrent operation or single operation.

Thus as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus embodying the invention comprises an elongated metal jacket, generally designated at 10, of rectangular section, mounted on legs 11. Jacket 10 comprises parallel side plates 12, 13, a top plate 14, a bottom plate 15 and end plates 16, 17. An outlet coupling 18 is disposed on bottom plate 15 at one end thereof.

Mounted in jacket 10 are a pair of similar extractor units 19, 20, which comprise similar cylindrical chambers, 19A, 20A respectively, the units being arranged in vertically spaced relation with the opposite ends of said chambers 19A, 20A projecting through jacket end plates 16, 17. Cylindrical chamber 19A is closed at one end by a plate 22 welded at its perimeter to the end of said chamber; and closed at the other end by a hinged door plate 23. Vertically spaced hinge members 24, 25 are welded to door plate 23. Tubular butts 26 are Welded to the outer ends of members 24, 25 while a flange 27 affixed to the end of chamber 21 has welded thereto a laterally disposed member 27A which carries a tubular butt 28 which interfits between and is aligned with butts 26-. A hinge pin 29 interconnects butts 26, 28.

Door plate 23 is notched at its perimeter as at 29A to receive locking bolts 30* extending from flange 27. A handle 31 is centrally disposed on plate 23. A gasket 32 is disposed between the peripheral portions of flange 27 and door plate 23.

The chamber 19A is adapted to receive therein a roll of fabric F mounted on a tubular winding mandrel M, whose wall is formed with closely spaced perforations P. Such fabric F essentially comprises lace bands or strips which have been woven together along their lateral edges by soluble threads of cellulose acetate or other suitable thermoplastic material which will dissolve in selected solvents, such as acetone or the like.

An elongated conduit generally indicated at 35 is disposed axially of chamber 19A with one end 86 thereof slightly spaced from door plate 23 in its closed position and the other end generally indicated at 37 projecting through an opening 38 in end plate 22. Conduit 35 has a support plate 39 welded thereto at end portion 37, said plate 39 3 being disposed in contact with the inner surface of end plate 22 and bolted thereto by bolts 40, as shown in FIG. 3.

A set of four struts 41 have angle flanges 42 at their inner ends which are bolted to end plate 22 as at 43, while their outer ends are welded to a pair of semi-cylindrical collars 44 which are disposed about conduit end portion 37 and clamped thereagainst by bolts 45.

Conduit 35 comprises a central conduit portion 46 for passing a stream of solvent such as acetone or the like. The conduit 35 further includes auxiliary conduit portions 47, 48 having common wall portions 49, 50 with central conduit portion 46; thus providing in a single integral conduit means a central solvent passing portion and auxiliary conduit portions on either side thereof. Central conduit portion 46 has its side wall portions 51, 52 formed with longitudinally spaced openings 53.

As shown in FIG. 6, the extreme left hand end of conduit 35 is closed by an end plate 54 welded in place. End portions of walls 49, 50 of the conduit are cut back as at 55, 56 and the central conduit portion 46 is closed at a point spaced from plate 54 by an end plate 57 welded in place. It will be apparent that auxiliary conduit portions 47, 43 are intercommunicating at one end thereof by way of cut back portions 55, 56, for the purposes hereinafter appearing.

The projecting conduit portion 37 has an end plate 58 secured at its periphery by welding to the ends of conduit portions 47, 48 and side wall portions 51, 52 to close off said conduit portions 47, 48, while allowing central conduit portion 46 to project through a central opening in said plate 58. A threaded coupling member 59 is welded to plate 58 to establish communication with conduit portion 46.

The outer wall portions of conduit poritions 47, 48 include built up pad portions formed with a steam inlet 60 for communication with conduit portion 47 and a condensate outlet 61 for communication with conduit portion 48.

The cylindrical chamber 19A is provided with T connectors 62, 63 at one end thereof and T connectors 64, 65 at the other end thereof; connectors 62, 64 being on the upper portion thereof and connectors 63, 65 being on the lower portion thereof.

Chamber 20A is similar in all respects to chamber 19A as described above. However the disposition of chamber 19A relative to jacket is such that the same is slightly lower at its left hand end, than at its right hand end, looking at FIG. 1. Also, chamber A is so disposed that its right hand end is slightly lower than its left hand end, also looking at FIG. 1. The conduit A in chamber 28A, is similar to conduit 35 described above and chamber 20A is provided with T connectors 62A, 63A, 64A and 65A.

The jacket 10 is provided with a pair of steam distributing pipes 66, 67 which extend longitudinally thereof over chamber 21 and immediately below top wall 14 and adjacent side plates 12, 13. The pipes 66, 67 are capped at their opposite ends as at 70, and the walls thereof are perforated at regular, longitudinal intervals, as at 71. A T member 72 interconnects pipes 66, 67; such member 72 providing means for suitable interconnection to a steam line, not shown.

To compensate for expansion and contraction, jacket 10 is provided with expansion joints 73, 73A at the opposite ends thereof. Also, pipes 66, 67 are provided with telescopic expansion members 74A fixed in end plates 16, 17 for slidably receiving the ends of said pipes.

The apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1 may be operated as indicated in FIG. 11. Assume that rolls of fabric F have been mounted over conduits 35, 35A in chambers 19A, 28A respectively; the free ends of said conduits being supported on removable brackets B positioned Within said chambers adjacent the open ends thereof, and the door plates 23 are then closed.

As shown in FIG. 11, connectors 65 and 64A are interconnected by a valved connection as at 75 and connector 64A is also connected by a line 76 to a vacuum pump 77. Connectors 63 and 62A are interconnected by a valve connection as at 78. Connectors 65A and 63A on chamber 20A are interconnected by a common line 79 which in turn is connected to a supply pump 80 by a line 81 with a valve 82 therein. Pump 80 is connected on its intake side to a solvent supply tank 83.

A reversible pump 85 is connected on one side by a line 86 to conduit 35A of chamber 20A, and on the other side by a line 87 to conduit 35 of chamber 19A. A line 88 including a valve 89, connects line 87 with line 81. A cut-off valve 90 is inserted on the delivery side of pump 80.

A solvent overflow tank 91 is provided, being connected at its inlet by a line 92 containing a valve 93, to connector 62A; and also being connected by a line 94 containing a valve 95, to connector 62. The outlet side of overflow tank 91 is connected to supply tank 83 by a line 96. Vacuum pump 77 includes a valved air exhaust line 97 and a valve condensate line 98 terminating in a condenser 99.

The system is set in operation by first exhausting air from the chambers 19A, 20A and all lines connected therewth by means of vacuum pump 77 and line 76; valves 75, 78 being opened. Pump 80 is then operated to fill the chambers with solvent taken from supply tank 83; valves 82, 75, 78, 90, being opened; valve 89 being closed.

After the chambers 19A, 20A have been filled with solvent; as indicated by appearance of a solvent in overflow tank 91, valves 82, 89, 90, 93 and 95 are closed. The pump 85 is then operated in a manner to force solvent flowing under pressure, to move by way of line 87'into conduit 35; radially outward thereof by way of openings 53 therein and openings P in mandrel M, radially outwadly through the fabric roll F to the outer surface thereof and then by way of connectors 62A, 64A into chamber 20A and thence from the outer circumference of fabric roll F radially inward thereof to the conduit 35A and thence outwardly through said conduit 35A, and back to pump 85 by way of line 86.

In this manner, solvent is circulated in an optimum manner to effect rapid solution of the soluble threads in fabric rolls F. Periodically, the pump 85 may be reversed in its direction of operation, in which case the solvent will follow a reverse path, starting with line 86 and into conduit 35A in chamber 20A and thence radially outward through fabric roll F to connectors 62A, 63 and 64A, 65 into chamber 21 and then radially inward of the fabric roll F therein to conduit 35 and outwardly thereof by way of line 87 back to pump 85. Such periodic reversal of pump 85 insures complete removal of solubilized thread material in the solvent.

If desired, the single chamberZtlA only may be made operative, in which case, valves 87A, 75 and 78 are closed; valves 82, 89 and 86A are opened. Circulation of solvent may now be maintained by way of lines 86, 88, 81 and 79 to effect radial passage of solvent with respect to the fabric roll F in chamber 20A either inwardly of outwardly thereof, as previously described.

When the solvent cycle has been completed, all solvent in chambers 19A, 20A may be drained by way of lines 79, 81, 88, pump 85 and line 100 to drain tank 101.

Any residual solvent still contained in the fabric rolls F is removed by admitting steam to conduits 35, 35A by Way of inlets '60 thereof, thereby heating the inner portions of said fabric rolls; and by admitting steam by way of pipes 66, 67 in jacket 10 to heat the outer portions of said fabric rolls. The resultant solvent vapors are exhausted from chambers 19A, 20A by means of vacuum .pump 77 and line 76; valves 75, 78 being open; valves duit portion 48 by way of the communicating end portions thereof, and thence by way of outlet 61, to a condensate receiver, not shown. Condensate in jacket is drained by way of outlet 18. Pipes 66, 67 may also be used to admit cooling water to jacket 10 to reduce the temperature of chambers 19A, 20A prior to starting a new cycle of operation.

The conduits 35, 35A may be removed from their respective chambers 19A, 20A, by unclamping conduit end portions 37 through removal of struts 41 and associated collars 44; and unbolting support plate 39 from end plate 22. This allows the conduits 35, 35A to be withdrawn through the open ends of chambers 19A, 20A when door plates 23 are in their unbolted, open position.

'It is understood that the foregoing procedure is also applicable to various fluid treatments of fabric in roll form such as pressure dyeing, bleaching, scouring, steaming and the like, wherein the treating fluid is rapidly passed radially between the inner and outer cylindrical surface portions of the fabric roll.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

ll. Apparatus for fluid treatment of a roll of fabric comprising an elongated chamber for receiving said fabric roll, a conduit extending axially thereof for mounting said fabric roll thereabout, said conduit having perforations in the wall thereof along the length thereof, connecting means on said conduit for passing liquid into and out of said conduit, connecting means on said chamber for passing liquid into and out of said chamber, and pump means for forcing liquid by way of said connecting means and the perforated conduit in a path radially through said fabric roll, said conduit including auxiliary conduit means associated therewith for passing a heating medium therethrough.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary conduit means comprises a pair of conduit portions extending longitudinally on opposite sides of said conduit, said conduit portions being interconnected at one end thereof, one of said conduit portions being adapted to pass steam therethrough and the other conduit portion being adapted to pass condensate therethrough.

3. In apparatus for fluid treatment of a roll of fabric, a cylindrical chamber, conduit means mounted within said chamber axially thereof, said conduit means comprising a central conduit portion closed at one end thereof and including inlet means at the other end thereof, a first auxiliary conduit portion extending along one side of said central conduit portion with a common wall therewith, a second auxiliary conduit portion extending along the other side of said central conduit portion with a common wall therewith, means interconnecting said first and second auxiliary conduit portions at one end thereof, steam heating fluid inlet means at the other end of one of said auxiliary conduit portions, and steam condensate outlet means at the other end of the other of said auxiliary conduit portions, said central conduit portion having Wall portions thereof formed with longitudinally spaced perforations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 207,334 Wright Aug. 20, 1878 403,305 'Sutcliffe 1. May 14, 1889 552,638 'Frotscher Jan. 7, 1896 1,131,083 Rau Mar. 9, 1915 1,388,081 Wioland Aug. 16, 1921 1,471,658 Heap Oct. 23, 1923 2,446,502 Wehrli Aug. 3, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 413,031 France May 18, 1910 567,379 Germany Dec. 31, 1932 735,947 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1955 

1. APPARATUS FOR FLUID TREATMENT OF A ROLL OF FABRIC COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING SAID FABRIC ROLL, A CONDUIT EXTENDING AXIALLY THEREOF FOR MOUNTING SAID FABRIC ROLL THEREABOUT, SAID CONDUIT HAVING PERFORATIONS IN THE WALL THEREOF ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, CONNECTING MEANS ON SAID CONDUIT FOR PASSING LIQUID INTO AND OUT OF SAID CONDUIT, CONNECTING MEANS ON SAID CHAMBER FOR PASSING LIQUID INTO AND OUT OF SAID CHAMBER, AND PUMP MEANS FOR FORCING LIQUID BY WAY OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS AND THE PERFORATED CONDUIT IN A PATH RADIALLY THROUGH SAID FABRIC ROLL, SAID CONDUIT INCLUDING AUXILIARY CONDUIT MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR PASSING A HEATING MEDIUM THERETHROUGH. 